Aberlour Parish Church Parish Profile

Aberlour Church Craigellachie Church

View of the River Spey

Aberlour Church 1

Scottish Charity Number: SC001336

August 2018

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Contents

Vision …………………………………………………………………... 3

Introduction to the Parish …………………………………………….. 3

Aberlour and Craigellachie area profiles

The Congregation……………………………………………………... 5

Children and young people, Kirk Session

Worship ………………………………………………………………. 7

Other worship opportunities, World Day of Prayer, Pastoral Care, Statistics

Other Fellowship Opportunities ……………………………………... 9

Walking Group, Aberlour Church Choir and Friends, Guild

Church Publications ………………………………………………….. 10

Kirk News, Aberlour Parish Website, Facebook, Sunday Supplement

Property ………………………………………………………………... 11

Aberlour Church, Craigellachie Church, The Manse, The Glebe

Other Projects Supported by our Congregation …………………… 15

Finance ………………………………………………………………… 16

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Vision

Focus on Parish Ministry, building up the faith of the church congregation

of all ages, equipping us to live lives which support and encourage one

another in faith and reach out to others in love.

Being in vacancy led the Kirk Session to re-evaluate our vision and

focus. We agreed the above statement and we look forward to the future

with our new Minister. One of the ways we will assess progress is by

means of more regular and enthusiastic attendance at Sunday services.

Introduction to the Parish

Aberlour Parish Church of Scotland, in the Presbytery of Moray, is

seeking a minister on an unrestricted call, due to the translation of the

previous minister in January 2018. The parish of Aberlour encompasses

the villages of Aberlour and Craigellachie, plus the rural communities of

Glenallachie, Benrinnes, Edinvillie and surrounding areas. Both Aberlour

and Craigellachie are situated on the A95 approximately 15 miles to the

south of Elgin in the picturesque Spey Valley. Aberdeen and Inverness

are equidistant at about 55 miles away.

The main industries in the area are whisky distilling, shortbread

production, farming, haulage and tourism. However, many of the local

population work in Elgin and surrounding towns.

There are primary schools at both Aberlour and Craigellachie and there

is a secondary school in Aberlour, which also accommodates the local

Community Centre, Swimming Pool and Gym. There are also nearby

sports facilities including tennis courts, lawn bowling green and football

pitches.

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Aberlour area profile

The full name of the village is Charlestown of Aberlour and it takes its

name from the Lour Burn, a tributary of the River Spey. Aberlour has a

very attractive square in front of the parish church. The village has a

wide selection of shops and services including: cottage hospital with a

minor injuries unit, health centre, residential care home, dental practice,

pharmacy, funeral director, fire station, post office and filling station.

The former railway station now houses the Speyside Visitor Centre and

Station Tearoom next to the Alice Littler Park on the bank of the River

Spey, which are managed by the Community Association and staffed by

volunteers. The park offers picnic areas, play equipment and the

opportunity to sit and relax while watching local wildlife on the river bank.

There is also a suspension footbridge across the Spey at the southern

end of the Littler Park.

The population of Aberlour was 972 at the last census in 2011 and is

now estimated to be nearer 1,200.

Craigellachie area profile

The name Craigellachie derives from the Gaelic (Creag Eileachaidh)

meaning “Rocky Hill”, due to the cliff on which most of the village sits.

Located at the confluence of the rivers Spey and Fiddich the village can

be dated back to at least 1750, when there was a ferry across the River

Spey. This was replaced in 1814 by the world-famous Telford bridge.

The 2011 census records the population of Craigellachie as 536 and the

community has a small selection of shops and services.

The two villages are linked by the Speyside Way which runs from

Aviemore to Buckie, with a spur heading to Dufftown and the Isla Way.

There is an active Village Council which is responsible for facilities

including the Village Hall, football pitch, tennis courts and pavilion.

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The Congregation

Aberlour Parish is one congregation under a Unitary Constitution with

two places of worship two miles apart: Aberlour Parish Church and

Craigellachie Church. Sunday worship is held at Craigellachie at 9.45

am and at Aberlour at 11.15 am.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the last Sundays of

February, May, August and November and all age services are held

occasionally.

The communion roll currently stands at 205 members with 10 adherents.

Average Sunday attendance is between 40-50 at Aberlour and 18-25 at

Craigellachie. The majority of the congregation are over 50 years young!

During the past five years, we estimate that approximately 20 new

participants have joined the congregation.

Children and young people

Sunday School for children aged 4+, meets in Aberlour Church at 11.15

am and after the Children’s address they go to the adjacent tearoom for

activities. Sunday School was re-established in 2017 and has steadily

grown in numbers since, with eight youngsters aged 4-13 attending.

Crèche facilities are available in both churches and the congregation

welcomes families to all services.

Holiday Club for all primary aged children is held each year, alternating

between Aberlour Church and Craigellachie Village Hall. The team is

‘home grown’ and we encourage our young people from Sunday School

to be involved as young leaders. We use Scripture Union’s holiday club

material.

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Holiday Club in Aberlour Church 2016

Messy Church is temporarily on hold, but it is hoped that we will be able

to recommence this activity in the near future.

Local Schools There are primary schools in both Aberlour and

Craigellachie. Speyside High School in Aberlour has approximately 430

students on its roll. It has the largest school catchment area in the UK

covering Tomintoul, Dufftown, Glenlivet, Glenrinnes, Knockando and

Rothes. Over 75% of pupils travel to and from Speyside High by school

bus. Both primary schools use our churches for events and are very

much part of our church family. Our ministers have been warmly

welcomed into the schools on a regular basis. Along with other local

churches, the minister has been involved in assemblies at the High

School and has provided pastoral care to pupils. We would like to build

links with the teenagers in our communities and would encourage the

continuation of the minister’s engagement with the schools.

Kirk Session

There are currently 13 members serving on the Kirk Session, made up of

12 women and one man all of whom are aged over 45 years. Two new

elders were ordained in November 2016. We currently have a Finance

and Property sub-committee.

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Worship

Sunday worship uses mainly CH4, occasionally using Mission Praise,

Junior Praise and Songs of God’s People. Aberlour Church uses the

church laptop and PowerPoint software to project the hymn words on to

a large screen and both churches have hearing loop systems.

Worship usually follows the traditional Church of Scotland style with

members of the congregation taking part in Sunday Services, including

announcing intimations, reading from the bible and are happy to assist

the Minister in any other way.

Special services take place during Holy Week, Christmas, Thinking Day,

Remembrance Sunday, Guild Week, Christian Aid Week, Holiday Club,

Harvest and at Pentecost. Along with other local churches, Aberlour

Parish Church also provides services and pastoral care at the local

residential home on a regular basis.

Pentecost celebrations in Aberlour Church 2017

A member of the congregation provides voluntary beadle cover at

Aberlour and there is also a rota of volunteers who welcome

worshippers, provide teas etc. In Craigellachie there is a rota of

volunteers who provide cover for all beadle duties.

Refreshments are available after each service in Aberlour Church, and

on the first Sunday of the month in Craigellachie Church. The

congregations appreciate the opportunity to chat over a cup of tea and

these informal get togethers are an important part of our fellowship.

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Other Worship Opportunities

o Prayer Group – a small prayer group meets each Wednesday

morning in Aberlour Church.

o Bible Study Group - led in recent years by our minister and/or

members of congregation.

o Lent Study Group - led in recent years by our minister.

o Enquirers’ Group - as required.

World Day of Prayer

Aberlour and Craigellachie churches participate in the World Day of

Prayer and host the annual worship on a rota basis with St Margaret’s

Episcopal Church and St Mary’s RC Church.

Pastoral Care

Church members provide informal pastoral care in their communities and

neighbourhoods. We also strive to keep the minister informed of anyone

who may need pastoral support.

Statistics

In 2017 there were 18 funerals, 3 baptisms, and 5 weddings.

Full parish statistics can be viewed on the Church of Scotland website.

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Other Fellowship Opportunities

Walking group

The Walking Group undertakes a variety of

routes on the second Saturday of each

month. Walks are normally 4-8 miles in

length, over a variety of terrain. Everyone is

made very welcome and it is well supported

across the neighbouring communities.

Aberlour Church Choir and Friends

The choir is made up of singers from neighbouring churches and

communities and presents regular concerts. It is a friendly and inclusive

group who make a wonderful joyful noise!

The Choir and Roger Jones’ ‘Barnabas’ production 2017

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Guild

The Guild has an enthusiastic membership and supports church

activities and fundraising for the church and for Guild nominated projects.

The meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month, 2pm-

4pm in Aberlour Church during September to March. The group enjoys a

varied syllabus of speakers, activities and visits.

Church Publications

Kirk News

A quarterly magazine is produced, collated and distributed by volunteers

from the church and community. It is delivered free of charge to every

household in the parish (currently 1020 copies printed). It contains both

church and community news and is self-financing, with any surplus

income donated to the church and nominated charities.

Aberlour Parish Church Website

There is an informative Aberlour Parish Church website which is updated

by a volunteer. https://aberlourparishchurch.org.uk/

Facebook

We also have a Facebook page, which is regularly updated by

volunteers. https://www.facebook.com/AberlourParishChurch

Sunday Supplement

This is produced weekly by a volunteer for distribution at both services

and by email; includes order of service, intimations, prayer points and

bible readings for the forthcoming week.

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Property

Aberlour Church

Extensive refurbishment of the

church took place in 2012. The

removal of pews and provision of

chairs delivered a venue suitable

for worship and a variety of other

uses including concerts; coffee

mornings; catered events; film

shows; Scottish Opera

performances; cabaret and social

evenings; workshops; friendship

groups; and meetings etc. The church also has a well-equipped kitchen;

toilets, including disabled facilities; vestry/small meeting area; Traidcraft

sales area.

The entrance vestibule provides easy access for all to the main worship

area, as well as access to the balcony. Aberlour Church can seat 250

and the building is in excellent condition.

The Aberlour Church organ is a two manual pipe organ with pedals and

is tuned annually. Rebuilt in 1992 by Sandy Edmonstone, it is held in

very high regard by many notable organists who have relished the

opportunity to play the organ during concerts.

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Craigellachie Church

Craigellachie Church was originally a school before becoming a mission

church and has had several extensions complementing the original

building. The church has a main worship area with pulpit and pews, a

vestry, two toilets (including disabled facilities), a meeting hall and small

kitchen. Craigellachie Church can seat 90 comfortably and services in

Craigellachie are accompanied by a clavinova.

The Manse

Front entrance to Manse

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The manse is in Aberlour. It is a bungalow built in 1979 which was

completely refurbished in 2009, standing in its own grounds with a

beautiful view over the village. Although opposite Speyside High School,

it is remarkably quiet as the majority of pupils (over 75%) are bussed to

and from school.

The accommodation consists of

three bedrooms (one ensuite),

study, box room (with a window),

sitting room with open fire, large

kitchen, dining room, utility room,

bathroom and an additional

separate toilet. The loft is partially

floored and there is a double

garage, shed and log store. The

manse has gas central heating and

is double glazed. Redecoration etc.

will be discussed with the new

Minister on appointment.

Kitchen

Garden area to side of Manse

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Master bedroom

Bathroom

Dining Room Study

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The Glebe

The Aberlour Parish Church glebe land is currently leased to a local

small holder and generates a small income.

Other Projects Supported by our Congregation

Moray Presbytery’s new mission partner is Fiona Kendall who works with

refugees in Italy.

There is a small Christian Aid committee, including

members from our congregation and from the

Episcopal and R.C. congregations, who organise

door-to-door collections, quiz sheets, Souper

Lunches, sponsored walks plus church services. In

2018 a total of £2,638.69 was contributed during

Christian Aid week.

Aberlour Village is a certified Fairtrade Town and Aberlour Parish

Church also has Fairtrade status. Both Aberlour and Craigellachie

churches have popular Traidcraft stalls run by members of the

congregation and Fairtrade products are used in both churches. The

church is also part of the Aberlour Fairtrade Town Steering Group which

hosts a Fairtrade event annually.

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Retiring offerings from our quarterly Communion Services support the

following:

o Mercy Ships

o Feed the Minds

o Street Pastors

o Step by Step in Moray

We also support the following charities throughout the year:

o Moray Food Bank

o World Mission Stamp Appeal

Finance

The financial situation for Aberlour Parish is as follows:

2016 Deficit £2,418 M&M contribution £29,842

2017 Surplus £144,001 M&M contribution £29,480

At the end of 2017, a significant legacy was gifted to Aberlour Parish

Church in the sum of just under £207,000. As a result, the Kirk Session

agreed to proceed with repointing works of Aberlour Parish Church.